9.30am – 11.30am9 June 2026
techUK, 10 St Bride Street, London, EC4A 4AD
Asia-Pacific is one of the most important growth regions for UK tech — home to major digital markets, fast-moving innovation ecosystems, and governments taking increasingly active positions on technology, trade, and industrial strategy. The opportunity is real. So is the complexity.
As part of London Tech Week, techUK's UK-APAC Tech Forum brings together tech firms, policymakers, and market experts to cut through that complexity. Join us on Tuesday, 9 June from 9:30-11.30am as we examine the commercial opportunities, policy shifts, and geopolitical currents reshaping the region — and what they mean for UK companies looking to export, scale, invest, or build lasting partnerships.
Expect frank discussion on how APAC markets are approaching technology development and regulation, where the strongest openings for UK firms lie right now, and how business and government can work together to deepen UK-APAC tech ties.
Why attend?
Meet potential clients, partners, or competitors that have an APAC-focus
Get practical, market-specific insight into the APAC opportunities that matter most
Hear senior voices on tech and trade policy
Explore concrete pathways for exporting, investment, and cross-border collaboration
Connect with businesses, policymakers, embassies, and ecosystem partners spanning both regions
Who should attend?
UK tech companies with ambitions to scale internationally
APAC firms looking to meet UK customers and partners
Companies with existing operations or partnerships across the region
Policy, trade, and international teams tracking APAC developments
Investors, advisers, embassies, and partners active in UK-APAC tech
Agenda:
9:30 - 9:40 - Opening Speeches
Julian David OBE, CEO, techUK
9:40 - 10:30 - Panel 1: Strategy and Scale: Government Approaches to Growing Tech Across the UK and APAC
Asia-Pacific (APAC) is home to some of the world's most dynamic tech ecosystems, from established hubs in Singapore, Tokyo and Seoul to fast-growing markets in Vietnam, Taiwan, and Indonesia. This panel takes a closer look at how governments across the region, and in the UK, are working to grow their tech sectors through industrial strategy, talent and skills policy, R&D investment, and regulation. What does each ecosystem actually look like for tech firms on the ground, where are the genuine points of complementarity with the UK, and what can policymakers in Whitehall learn from their APAC counterparts, and vice-versa?
Speakers:
Chair: Daniel Clarke - Senior Policy Manager, International, techUK
Dr Edwin Hidayat Abdullah - Director-General, Digital Ecosystem, Government of Indonesia
Jakob Edberg - President & CEO, The GR Company
Richard Murray - Co-founder & CEO, ORCA Computing
Other Speakers TBC
10:30 - 10:40 - Coffee & Networking Break
10:40 - 11:30 - Panel 2: Doing Business in the UK-APAC Tech Corridor
UK-Asia-Pacific (APAC) tech trade does not flow in one direction. Just as UK firms are looking to scale in APAC, a growing number of APAC tech firms are choosing the UK as their base for Europe and beyond. This panel brings together legal, commercial and market advisory experts to look at both sides of the trade. For UK firms heading east, the discussion will cover market entry routes, intellectual property (IP) protection, contracting, regulatory compliance and the role of UK government support. For APAC firms coming the other way, it will examine what good UK market entry looks like, how to work with UK regulators, and where the strongest commercial and investment partnerships are being built.
Speakers:
Chair: Ed Bevan - Head of SME Engagement, techUK
Minette Navarrete - President and Managing Partner, Kickstart Ventures
Wenmiao Yu - Co-Founder & Director of Business Development, Quantum Dice
Winnie Seow Mei - Ecosystem Development Director – APAC & MEA, Santander UK
If you are interested in speaking at this event, please email [email protected].
Daniel Clarke
Senior Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade, techUK
Daniel Clarke
Senior Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade, techUK
Dan joined techUK as a Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade in March 2023.
Before techUK, Dan worked for data and consulting company GlobalData as an analyst of tech and geopolitics. He has also worked in public affairs, political polling, and has written freelance for the New Statesman and Investment Monitor.
Dan has a degree in MSc International Public Policy from University College London, and a BA Geography degree from the University of Sussex.
Outside of work, Dan is a big fan of football, cooking, going to see live music, and reading about international affairs.
techUK International Policy and Trade Programme activities
techUK supports members with their international trade plans and aspirations. We help members to understand market opportunities, tackle market access barriers, and build partnerships in their target market. Visit the programme page here.
LTW 2026: UK-APAC Tech Forum
Join us on Tuesday, 9 June from 9:30-11.30am as we examine the commercial opportunities, policy shifts, and geopolitical currents reshaping the region — and what they mean for UK companies looking to export, scale, invest, or build lasting partnerships.
Our members develop strong networks, build meaningful partnerships and grow their businesses as we all work together to create a thriving environment where industry, government and stakeholders come together to realise the positive outcomes tech can deliver.
Sabina Ciofu is International Policy and Strategy Lead at techUK, where she heads the International Policy and Trade Programme. Based in Brussels, she shapes global tech policy, digital trade, and regulatory cooperation across the EU, US, Canada, Asia-Pacific, and the Gulf region. She drives strategy, advocacy, and market opportunities for UK tech companies worldwide, ensuring their voice is heard in international policy debates.
With nearly a decade of previous experience as a Policy Advisor in the European Parliament, Sabina brings deep expertise in tech regulation, trade policy, and EU–US relations. Her work focuses on navigating and influencing the global digital economy to deliver real impact for members.
A passionate community-builder, Sabina co-founded Young Professionals in Digital Policy (800+ members) and now runs Old Professionals in Digital Policy (more experience, better wine, earlier nights). She is also the founder of the Gentlewomen’s Club, a network of 500+ women supporting each other with kindness.
She holds advisory roles with the UCL European Institute, Café Transatlantique (a network of women in transatlantic tech policy), and The Nine, Brussels’ first members-only club for women.
Recognised by ComputerWeekly as one of the most influential women in UK tech, Sabina is also a sought-after public speaker on tech, trade and diversity.
Sabina holds an MA in War Studies from King’s College London and a BA in Classics from the University of Cambridge.
Senior Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade, techUK
Daniel Clarke
Senior Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade, techUK
Dan joined techUK as a Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade in March 2023.
Before techUK, Dan worked for data and consulting company GlobalData as an analyst of tech and geopolitics. He has also worked in public affairs, political polling, and has written freelance for the New Statesman and Investment Monitor.
Dan has a degree in MSc International Public Policy from University College London, and a BA Geography degree from the University of Sussex.
Outside of work, Dan is a big fan of football, cooking, going to see live music, and reading about international affairs.
Theo joined techUK in 2024 as EU Policy Manager. Based in Brussels, he works on our EU policy and engagement.
Theo is an experienced policy adviser who has helped connect EU and non-EU decision makers.
Prior to techUK, Theo worked at the EU delegation to Australia, the Israeli trade mission to the EU, and the City of London Corporation’s Brussels office. In his role, Theo ensures that techUK members are well-informed about EU policy, its origins, and its implications, while also facilitating valuable input to Brussels-based decision-makers.
Theo holds and LLM in International and European law, and an MA in European Studies, both from the University of Amsterdam.
Archie Breare joined techUK in September 2022 as the Telecoms Programme intern, and moved into the Policy and Public Affairs team in February 2023.
Before starting at techUK, Archie was a student at the University of Cambridge, completing an undergraduate degree in History and a master's degree in Modern British History.
In his spare time, he likes to read, discuss current affairs, and to try and persuade himself to cycle more.
Tess joined techUK as an Policy and Public Affairs Team Assistant in November of 2024. In this role, she supports areas such as administration, member communications and media content.
Before joining the Team, she gained experience working as an Intern in both campaign support for MPs and Councilors during the 2024 Local and General Election, and working for the Casimir Pulaski Foundation on defence and international secuirty. She has worked for multiple charities, on issues such as the climate crisis, educational inequality and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). In 2023, Tess obtained her Bachelors of Arts in Politics and International Relations from the University of Nottingham.
Jakob Edberg is co-founder of The GR Company and has over two decades of direct experience in politics and policy-making.
Prior to co-founding The GR Company, he was Policy Director at the European Business Council in Japan, where he supervised government outreach and advocacy for over 300 companies in 29 sector committees.
Jakob is widely recognised as the leading government affairs practitioner in Japan, with expertise in a range of policy areas including technology, trade, energy, healthcare, and others.
Jakob is fluent in Japanese, English and Swedish, and complements degrees in political science and Japanese language with a master’s in International Political Economy from the University of Tsukuba, Japan.
President and Managing Partner, Kickstart Ventures
Minette Navarrete is President of Kickstart Ventures. She is concurrently Senior Vice President at Globe Telecom, the Philippines' leading mobile player, and Vice-Chair of the Ayala Corporation Innovation Council, helping lead the Philippines' first business house to a sustainable digital future. Prior to joining Globe, Minette held CEO/COO positions in various industries, ranging from scrappy startups to iconic global companies. She was in Forbes ''50 Over 50'' 2023. Minette led the creation of Globe's first digital strategy blueprint in 2007, laying the foundation of Globe's digital media, content, and advertising businesses. In 2012, Minette led her team to found Kickstart Ventures, spinning out as Globe's corporate venture capital firm, investing worldwide in early- to early growth stage tech startups, out of Globe's two funds, as well as the ACTIVE Fund, anchored by Ayala Corporation. Kickstart investments track four investment theses about the future of data, work, communities, and sustainable resources. To-date, the Kickstart portfolio lists companies in nine countries around the world. Minette sits on the boards of Roslin Technology as an Observer, and Clarity Movement and SariSuki as a Director, tackling global issues of resource scarcity and climate change.
Jeremy Wastall is the Chief Executive Officer of GoGlobal, where he drives global strategy and growth across the company’s suite of workforce and business solutions. He is passionate about helping companies navigate international expansion while making operations simpler, smarter and more profitable.
Prior to becoming CEO, Jeremy served as Chief Revenue Officer. He helped scale GoGlobal’s revenue engine, led the launch of the Business & Corporate Solutions offering and shaped the company’s go-to-market strategy. He collaborated closely with tech, R&D and marketing teams to deliver innovative solutions and accelerate client success.
Jeremy has built his career at the intersection of consulting, technology and innovation, leading high-performing teams across Europe and the US. His leadership philosophy emphasizes operational excellence, collaboration and turning ambitious goals into tangible results.
He holds a degree in Property & Business Studies from the University of the West of England.
Outside of work, Jeremy enjoys time with his wife and young son, practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and enjoying the outdoors when he gets a moment. These pursuits reflect the same focus, discipline and endurance he brings to leading GoGlobal.
Co-Founder & Director of Business Development, Quantum Dice
Wenmiao Yu is the co-founder and Director of Business Development at Quantum Dice, a venture-backed Oxford University spin-out enabling encryption through a self-certifying Quantum Random Number Generator. She is an entrepreneur focused on translating scientific innovation into marketable products. Her responsibilities include fundraising and leading quantum technology market creation.
After reading Chemistry at the University of Oxford and co-founding Quantum Dice, Wenmiao was awarded an Enterprise Fellowship at the Quantum Technology Enterprise Centre in Bristol (the youngest across all cohorts). She actively advocates for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, mentoring students in the Oxford Women in Business Society, and is also on the committee for New Voices in Space, a part of the Scottish Space Leadership Council.
Wenmiao strongly believes in the power of communities, crucial to growing nascent industries such as quantum technologies, and she always wants to hear from like-minded individuals across all disciplines.
Join over 650 senior leaders from across technology and government at techUK's Annual Dinner, featuring keynote speaker Kanishka Narayan MP, Minister for AI and Online Safety in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and after-dinner speaker Beth Rigby, British journalist.
